Posted 10 years ago
WSH1923
(1 item)
These are a pair of buttons I inherited from my grandfather who lived in Virginia. He collected all sorts of things and I can't seem to fully identify these. They appear to be silver but do not have any legible markings on the back. Both shanks are fully intact. I'm just looking for all the information I can get so I can figure out what I need to do with them. Thank you for looking!
The answer is no. The British seemed to have always used brass/bronze. but certainly not silver. Also, British buttons in that condition, you should sure read their deep makers marks.
I'd agree with Blunder if these were 19th century, but I’m not so sure button backmarks were the norm in pre-revolutionary times. Also, this does look like the Tudor Rose found on some Royal Navy buttons, and these were made in different metals, so I think an officer who could afford silver may have ordered them. I’m not expert enough to say they are pre-revolutionary British Navy, just saying they could be.
Take a scroll down this link to see a few like yours: http://georgewashingtoninauguralbuttons.com/navy.html